A few summers ago I was suprised to see a vintage sailing ship docked on the Chicago River at the point where it joins Lake Michigan that looked like it was from the 1700′s. It was the Tall Ships visiting Chicago and they are back this summer with more sailing excursions to offer local Chicagoans a really unique experience. There is one Tall Ship here now that I have seen floating by our office building downtown but be ready for 20 tall ships to arrive at Navy Pier on August 24-29, 2010. This will be a rare vintage sailing event for Chicago.

The ships have come all the way from Canada, Germany and The Netherlands in addition to the ones from the US. You will be able to tour the Tall Ships that weekend in August while they are at Navy Pier (the local tour boats will give up their docks?) and they have several tours and sailing ticket packages available. To tour the Tall Ships the cost is $15-20. To take a 60-90 minute sailing ride on Lake Michigan it costs from $45-55 and a special trip to be on the Tall Ships as they are in the Parade of Sails it is $189.00 per person. (Navy Pier 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago)

It is a bit expensive but it is a once in a lifetime experience, its not like it is easy to maintain these boats and they aren’t very common anymore. You can get a $2 discount with a specially marked Pepsi can and some tickets are available at neighborhood Dominick’s stores at a 35% discount in advance. Tickets can be purchased online at: websales.omniticket.com/cnp

There will also be nightly fireworks shows the weekend the tall sailing ships visit. If your kids like the Pirates of the Caribbean or just Pirates in general they may really enjoy seeing these old navy ships in action.

It is also good to remember that Navy Pier is also where Chicago Architectural Tours, Sea Dog Tours and Shoreline Sight Seeing tours are docked on a daily basis. So when your relatives come to visit and want to see Chicago or the kids need a summer field trip, these can also be fun affordable tours to take on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Parking is easy, there is an enormous parking garage inside Navy Pier Just turn North of the pier and drive along side, large signs direct traffic in to the parking under the buildings. Expect parking to be around $25.

Schedule:

August 24
(Ticket sales start at Noon)
Parade of Sail
Begins at 4:00 pm

Opening Ceremonies at Navy Pier’s East End Plaza: 5:00 p.m. as the ships make their approach. Festival viewing tickets required.

Tall Ship Viewing
Close of Parade of Sail to 9:00 pm

Fireworks 9:00 pm
August 25-28
10:00 am– 9:00 pm
Festival Grounds open (advance or walk-up ticket purchase required)

Tall Ship Viewing and Tall Ship Dockside Boarding

*Box offices will open at least 1 hour in advance of event opening times

Fireworks 9:00 pm
August 29
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Festival Grounds open (advance or walk-up ticket purchase required)

Tall Ship Viewing and Tall Ship Dockside Boarding

*Box offices will open at least 1 hour in advance of event opening times

Fireworks 9:30 p.m.

Now that we are racing towards the end of 2009 and the beginning of a new decade in 2010 it’s time to reflect upon how Chicago fared this year.

Early in 2009 most of us in Chicago were just happy that Rod Blagojevichwas slowly dropping out of the news and we didn’t have to hear about him every day anymore. The stupidity and lies involved with that scandal were just disgusting regarding the abuse of power.

Image Via Gawker.com

2009 started out with a flurry of excitement over Barack Obama being elected president and the inauguration in Washington. Yes this was a proud moment for Chicago but it was really a moment for the entire country and we were just happy to be a stop in Barack’s ever changing and evolving successful career. Since then we’ve learned that even if a person has their heart in the right place and wants to make real progress for the nation, it doesn’t mean it will actually happen. Sure, we’re only 1 year into a 4 year term, but besides some small reversals of stem cell and corporate banking and governance laws and the constant life support for the economy we haven’t seen the change we all hoped so much for. Especially regarding Iraq and Afghanistan.

I’m not a political blogger so I don’t really have the patience for all the arguing that goes on with officials in Washington about details of people’s lives half a world away, but the simplified truth is that the war costs an immense amount, we have to take out massive loans to pay for it and those loans need repayment or else the rest of the economy will falter like never before. I can’t see how the governments (national, state and local) can get away with neglecting infrastructure like bridges falling down and schools with failing grades because they say we can’t afford it and by doing so cheat our future, while fighting this very expensive war to provide a hazy goal of future oil and supposedly less future terrorism? Its not working, and the huge bureaucratic system full of people who want the war to continue won’t let Obama change things that the citizens want changed. So, the presidency is becoming less inspirational these days and more tuned out like the last one.

One of the most frustrating events was Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics. Many people got caught up in the possibility of this relatively small city (of 9 million people) hosting that huge international event and with stars in our eyes we plastered posters over any surface possible (and hanging over the edge of the Chicago River Bridge for Michigan Avenue) in hopes to spread the feeling of sport, spirit and rainbows. Unfortunately in a recession where the unemployment rate and foreclosure rate keep climbing, it was difficult to generate excitement about a several billion dollar bill. Most of us see the obvious dollar signs in the eyes of the corporate and government sponsors/hosts and know we the citizens would be footing the bill in many ways. Higher fees for products and services, more congestion, more construction fouling up traffic and most of all; a bevy of new higher taxes were what we avoided by being eliminated by the IOC from the final four in the first round. What a huge relief!

In other Big Chicago News in 2009 Oprah Winfrey announced that 2010 will be her last year hosting the Oprah Winfrey Show. While many people were apathetic about that news we were scared that the headquarters for HARPO Productions would move to LA with Oprah and take with it some of the few notable broadcasting and media jobs still in Chicago. Luckilly they announced that HARPO would stay put for now and they get some juicy tax breaks as a result. Over time Oprah’s show got to be more about sales and marketing promotions for companies and less about real people and the social issues in society which she gained popularity covering through the 80′s and 90′s. Access on the internet to quick and deep disclosure by celebrities about their lives is another reason the show is less of a novelty. Oprah.com has always been a closed site requiring membership to see content and recently I could not even find a copy of the White House Christmas episode online to view. How can they show something like that once and never share it on the internet?

The topic on most people’s minds the most in 2009 has been the economy and jobs. Too few companies are doing ok and everyone knows too many people out of work. The office where I work has about half the staff it had two years ago.  Chicago is one of the fixtures on the rust belt, but many of us thought that had passed with jobs in finance, technology, health care and sales leading the way in Chicago in the last 10 years. Most of that growth seems to be gone and Chicago bounces between 9% and 11.4%, always above the national average. (October (10.3%) is the most recent data available, metropolitan unemployment rates are about 2 months behind)  A few of the big layoffs in Chicago in 2009 were from: The City of Chicago, KPMG, Motorola, Chicago Public Schools, Deloitte, E&Y, Tribune, Conde Nast, Art Institute of Chicago, CTA, Just about every Law Firm, Boeing, CDW, CareerBuilder, Orbitz and many more. As a result of people loosing jobs and being upside down on their mortgages the number of Foreclosed Homes has jumped also. The economy and all the unemployed workers have also framed the Health Care Debate in Washington this year because they have either lost health insurance when they lost their job or many could not afford it to begin with. Some looked to independent insurance like Personal Care Insurance Group Health Plan Illinois and others just went with Blue Cross or without any Insurance all together. We all are responsible for what decisions are made on health care reform and it will affect all of us as we get older and need more health care services.

My hope is that 2010 and beyond will be better since this has been a difficult decade for Chicagoans. While on the surface the city may be cleaner/prettier and have more luxury shopping, hotels and condos, the average citizen probably has not had a great improvement in their finances or job situation on average. We’re a great city filled with hard working and determined people. We have to re-energize the city, refresh the identity of Chicago around our strengths and move forward again. Hopefully things will be in a better place in 2020.

The L decked out for Christmas with lights and lots of decorations.

Adapted from all the listings I have collected this is the 25 best things to do in Chicago this Christmas. Take note, many of these Christmas activities are free and fun for the whole family. Whether it is a showing of the Nutcracker, Christmas Caroling, shopping at ChristkindleMarket, seeing A Christmas Carol or Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer show, seeing Winter Wonderfest or Zoolights, there is plenty to plan your weekend with this holiday season. As always call the phone numbers listed for more information, addresses an times. If you plan on attending these holiday events in Chicago please take public transportation on your way there to minimize traffic and avoid the cost of parking downtown ($25+). Chicagoweekendfun.com wishes everyone the warmest and most fun holiday season yet!

 A BREAKFAST WITH SANTA- Fun for kids! This breakfast with santa features a special appearance by Chicago Bear Jerry Azumah and if you bring a handmade ornament you can enter to win prized. Bring an unwrapped gift to donate to the Walter and Connie Payton foundation. United Club at Soldier Field, 1410 South Museum Campus, (312)235-7162. December 5th @ 10 AM. $50, $25 best for kids 3-12, An RSVP is required.

THE 11TH ANNUAL BUCKTOWN HOLIDAY ARTSHOW - All kinds of local art at many price levels including photography, jewelry, watercolors and more. The creativity in the art is beyond what you can find in a big box store for christmas. Holstein Park Fieldhouse, 2200 North Oakley St, (312)742-7554. December 12th and 13th, 11am to5pm, $2 entry fee.

CHRISTMAS CAROLING AT THE CLOUD GATE (the bean) – Join groups of carolers for a weekly sing-along @ Millennium Park, 201 East Randolph St, (312)742-1168. Fridays through December 18th @ 6pm. Free!

The Music Box Theater

The 14TH ANNUAL CHRISTKINDLMARKET @ DALEY PLAZA – This outdoor German market on Daley Plaza offers vendors selling authentic German food, drinks and handmade goods like ornaments and clothing. Some favorites are Beer, Potato pancakes and Christmas Ornaments. Daley Plaza, 50 West Washington St, (312)494-2175. November 25th through December 24th. Free!

68TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD/14TH ANNUAL HOLIDAYS OF LIGHT Museum of Science and Industry – A tradition at the Museum of Science and Industry, see where Christmas is celebrated around the world with Christmas trees, music, dancing and some exhibits of other winter holidays, including Diwali, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. At the Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 South Lake Shore Drive, (773)684-1414. November 20th through January 3rd. Free with general Museum of Science and Industry admission of $9-$13.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Theater – The classic tale of mean ol’ Ebenezer Scrooge turned around by the Goodman Theater. See what Christmas is really supposed to be about and bring the whole family. At the Goodman Theatre, 170 North Dearborn St, (312)443-3800. Now Showing from November 20th through December 31st. Tickets are $25-$74, or $10 for students.

The 26TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SING-ALONG AND DOUBLE FEATURE MOVIES – Come see two favorite classic Christmas Movies and sing some carols too —“It’s a Wonderful Life” and “White Christmas”— at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 North Southport Ave, (773)871-6604. December 18th through December 24th. Tickets are $16 for the double feature, or $11 for the single.

Christmas HOLIDAY FLOWER SHOW – Garfield Park Conservatory has more holiday flowers than you can dream of. Fields of poinsettias and other holiday plants are in their vast and amazing greenhouses for viewing. Come see this horticultual treasure in Chicago. The Garfield Conservatory, 300 North Central Park, (312)746-5100. Open November 28th through January 10th. Free, but donations appreciated.

MILLENNIUM PARK ICE SKATING – We have already written about the fun of skating downtown among the skyline, but I will say it again, grab your skates and head over to the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink on Michigan Avenue in Millennium Park. The 2009-2010 season runs from November 20th through March 14th. (also fun around Valentine’s day)

The Michigan Avenue Bridge over the Chicago River

THE JOFFREY BALLET PRESENTS THE NUTCRACKER – The exclusive Joffrey Ballet “The Nutcracker” is only here for two weeks. Don’t miss the amazing ballet dance troupe performing this Christmas classic at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 East Congress, call for more info (800)982-2787. December 11th through December 27th. Tickets are $25-$100.

RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR HOLIDAY SALE – 150 local, national and international artists show their unique creations Come browse the handmade jewelry, clothing and comics, among a plethora of other goodies. Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, 1419 W. Blackhawk, (773)227-2707. Dec 5 and Dec 6, 11am-7pm. Free.

RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER – The classic tale of Rudolph in a funny, family-friendly retelling of said story. The Annoyance Theatre, 4830 N. Broadway, (773)561-4665. Nov 27-Dec 18. $15, $10 for kids under 12.

SANTA’S HOUSE & Photos With SANTA – Sit on Jolly Ol’ St. Nick’s lap, tell him what you want for Christmas and get a picture. Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington, (312)744-3315. Nov 26-Dec 24. Free.

SONGS OF GOOD CHEER – Chicago Tribune’s Eric Zorn and Mary Schmich and musicians head a caroling party at the Old Town School of Folkmusic. Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 North Lincoln, (773)728-6000. December 18-December 19 @ 7:30 pm, and December 20 @ 5 pm. Tickets are $36-$40.

Macy's (Marshall Field's) on State Street all decked out

32ND ANNUAL TOYS FOR TOTS MOTORCYCLE PARADE – This annual event is beneficial to the greater community with thousands of motorcycle riders delivering toys of all kinds so they can be donated to families in need. You can donate toys at any of the many stops along the routes. Dan Ryan Woods, 8300 South Western Avenue, (708)771-1062. December 6th @ 9:30 am. Free, toy donation required (no stuffed animals please).

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS HOME TOURS – Tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park home, decked out for the holidays, and learn about the Wright family’s Christmas celebrations. Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, 951 Chicago Avenue in Oak Park, (708)848-1976. December 12th and December 19th at 9am-11am. Free!

WELCOME YULE! – A holiday concert featuring members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, as well as the Welcome Yule! Children’s and Dance Ensemble. Symphony Center, 220 South Michigan Avenue, (312)294-3000. December 18th through December 23rd. Tickets: $20-$98.

WINTER WONDERFEST NAVY PIER – Keeping the tradition of elaborate holiday tourist traps alive, Navy Pier transforms itself into a winter wonderland complete with a skating rink, inflatable games and a bungee run. Santa and his elves will be on hand every day ‘til Christmas to listen to kid’s holiday wishes. Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand, (312)595-PIER. Dec 4-Jan 3. $16-$19.

WONDERLAND EXPRESS MODEL TRAINS – Eighty model trains travel through Chicago landmarks, waterfalls and holiday trees in this 10,000-square-foot exhibit, tiny trains wind through more than 80 miniature Chicago landmarks, waterfalls, holiday trees and more. New on the map this year is Barack Obama’s Hyde Park home and Michelle Obama’s childhood home. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook, Glencoe, (847)835-5440. Nov 27-Jan 3. $6-$10.

ZOOLIGHTS @ LINCOLN PARK ZOO – More than two million lights add beautiful holiday cheer to the Lincoln Park Zoo. The activities include visits with Santa, kid’s activities and ice carving demonstrations. Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 North Cannon, (312)742-2000. November 27th through January 3rd. Free!

All the stores near us with some kind of Black Friday Sale going on after Thanksgiving.

The buzz about Black Friday Ads and Sales has grown from being just an inside retail industry term a few years ago to a regularly used term that ends up on posters and fliers sent to the public weeks before the day after Thanksgiving actually arrives.

The change may have to do with the recession and how badly retailers have been doing in the last few years and it may also be a factor in the “new economy” where people have scaled back shopping to a level where they know how much things can be discounted and they just wait to shop for gifts at Christmas until they are 70% off.

I think the Black Friday Sales and Discounting has shed light on just how overpriced a lot of merchandise really is and how much things can still be marked down when they are made in China, and a company still makes a profit at 70% off.

Whether you plan on going to Oak Brook Mall, Yorktown Mall, Woodfield Mall, Fox Valley Mall or Old Orchard and Stratford Square Malls, there is a lot to know about before you drive over.

That all said here is what I have been seeing from some of the retailers online and in email:  (I will post more as I see them)

• ING Direct: has a special deal page (for affiliate retailers I am assuming, not their bank products) they are setting up for 24 hours only at IngDirect.com/BlackFriday from 12 midnight Thursday to 11:59 pm Friday.  It will have a variety of one day deals but they don’t say what they are beforehand. You just have to check it out and see. Maybe buy.
• Kohl’s is opening at 4AM: Besides the fact that this is insane to get up for a sale, Kohl’s usually has large discounts available, but if you do go to Kohl’s during the regular day, expect it to be crowded. Buy Now.
• Ann Taylor Loft:30% + Free Shipping, this isn’t much from a place that marks up merchandise o ridiculous levels. Wait.
• IKEA:Sales on certain key items and doorbuster deal types used as bait. If you really need these 1/2 price items then its worth it, you can’t really go there expecting to browse on a day like Black Friday.  Maybe buy.
• Old Navy:They have low prices to begin with so 25% off is even better. You always get a lot of bang for your buck there. Plus every few weeks everything in the store is new, so if you like something, Buy Now.
• Jcrew:20% off and free shipping. This is weak from a company that makes stuff cheap and then brands as luxury and charges $200 for a sweater. ( like Anthropologie and Ann Taylor)  Wait.  
• Department Stores like Macy’s and Sears: These stores always have great deals on specific items but not on everything. Check other stores online in the store to compare with your smartphone. Maybe Buy.
• WalMart and Amazon.com are having a $9 price war over books and DVDS. You win either way but think about where you really want to send your money if things are really the same price. What kind of company do you want to support?  Some WalMart stores will be open 24 hours on this day, like Amazon is open 24 hours a day online.
• Target – Best Buy for Electronics: Usually Best Buy offers the better items for sale but Target will discount bait items that will be super cheap, and not likley the exact model you want. Be careful of buying the cheapest TV or Stereo when they may be lacking features you need.

In regards to the Ads and Sales offers out there for this year’s Black Friday Sales in Chicagoland. I am seeing a few trends:

1. A lot of small bait like 20%-30% off in stores and online, plus free shipping.This is nice, and preferred over no sale but is not what really makes up a black Friday deal. 

2. Emails offering different sales than the stores and the websites. Each marketing channel sometimes has different pricing depending on who they think is the most likely to buy. The less likely they think you are to buy, the bigger the discount they will offer.

Sign up for the store emails to compare with the websites and the stores on Black Friday 2009, an iPhone will help compare prices when you’re in the store on Black Friday 2009. If you do see the best deals are online you may want to see the items in person first so going to the store is still a good idea. Remember the downsides to shopping online: Not Seeing the real merchandise in person before buying, difficulty returning it and no trying it on. Every store photographs and photoshops products to look better online than in person.

3. Coupon codes are being given out in the emails from retailers rather than sent out secretly to certain chosen people on direct mail lists. They are also running cupon codes all over their own website and on banner ads.You can get a black Friday coupon code just about anywhere now. Why are stores doing that? Because it gets you to purchase right now thinking its a good deal, and then most people forget the coupon code unless they write it down on a piece of paper when they are browsing. The coupon codes are never added automatically to the order.

4. A lot of people are tired of this Black Friday frenzy and are skipping out altogether. We have lives and families and can’t get up at 3am for a sale. That has spurned a lot of online black Friday sales available all day and a lot of people just not buying gifts at all. I think the people who have always been most attracted to Black Friday Sales have been the discount shoppers and the families that have to buy toys for the kids. Toys are most likely to be used as bait to get you into big-box stores because people who have kids need those to be more affordable. If you don’t have kids, wait out this season until the dust clears and there will be better sales near Christmas.

And lastly, the National Retail Federationestimates that people will spend 12% more because they are more optimistic about the economy than last year, but there are a lot of reasons that we aren’t out of the woods yet, so caution might be the best policy.

I just wanted to share the list of streets closed for this weekend’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon in the city. If you live downtown or up north in Chicago, beware of parking bans and getting your car towed tonight also in addition to these streets that will be inaccessible. Most streets re-open on Sunday afternoon when the race is over, but some streets take longer to clear and won’t be open again until Monday morning. If you are viewing/cheering the Chicago Marathon, take public transportation downtown. If you live in the area, I recommend staying in for the weekend, or using public transit. Driving will be difficult. But then again its just once a year.

The following information was provided by the Chicago Police Department.

Please note that although the Bank of America Marathon is on Sunday, some street closures will be in effect as early as Thursday evening.

Bank of America Chicago Marathon Date: Sunday, 11 Oct 09

Start Time: 7:30 am

Start Location: Monroe and Columbus

Finish Location: Columbus north of Roosevelt Street

Closures for site set up, event and teardown:

• Columbus from Roosevelt to Congress Pkwy- Closed: Friday, 09 Oct 09 at 10am Opened: Monday, 12 Oct 09 at 6am
• Columbus from Congress Pkwy to Jackson- Closed: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 3am Opened: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 4pm
• Columbus from Jackson to Monroe- Closed: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 3am Opened: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 11am
• Columbus from Monroe to Randolph- Closed: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 3 am Opened: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 9:30am
• Balbo from Columbus to LSD- Closed: Thursday, 09 Oct 09 at 7pm Opened: Monday, 12 Oct 09 at 6am
• Balbo from Michigan to Columbus- Closed: Friday, 10 Oct 09 at 10am Opened: Monday, 12 Oct 09 at 6am
• Congress Pkwy from Michigan to Columbus- Closed: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 3am Opened: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 4pm
• North & South Congress Circle Michigan to Congress Pkwy- Closed: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 3am Opened: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 3pm
• Jackson from Michigan to Columbus- Closed: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 3am Opened: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 11am
• Jackson from Columbus to LSD- Closed: Saturday, 10 Oct 09 at 6am Opened: Monday, 12 Oct 09 at 6am
• Monroe from Michigan to LSD- Closed: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 3am Opened: Sunday, 11 Oct 09 at 9:30am

For further marathon route and information go to chicagomarathon.com There will be rolling street closures and streets will be opened as soon as it is safe to do so. Also check the Chicago CTA website for updates on how they have modified the bus routes for the weekend and added extra trains to handle crowds.

Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruises and Toursare one of the top attractions I recommend for tourists and locals alike when visiting downtown Chicago in the summer.  It offers a chance to see Chicago from a different perspective and is relatively cheap for entertainment. It is a great stay-cation activity this summer, and it is a local activity that is fun, relatively cheap and kid/family friendly. I hope everyone is enjoying the mild weather and the time off from work. I will post more frequently in the coming weeks after the big day has passed this Saturday.

chicago architecture river tours

Here are my recommendations for summer fun in Chicago:

1. The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise – This is a very popular Chicago River boat tour because Chicago is known for the great mid century and art deco architecture downtown. This Chicago River Cruise lasts about one and a half hours and costs $28 per person. The views of Chicago from the Chicago River are different than anywhere else in the city downtown. Looking up at the buildings that line the river is almost like walking back in history. The hosts of the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Tours always have the background, dates and interesting stories about these buildings you see.

They give you the background and history on why the buildings are as they are today and what companies and purposes they had back in the day that is entertaining even if you are a local tourist. A lot has changed in Chicago over the decades, but the architecture is one of the few things that stays the same. This tour tells you the history of why things are they way they are and who built this great city. Look to the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s web sitefor tickets, tour dates and times and what events are happening in conjunction with the tours coming up this month. architecture.org The starting point for the tour is on the corner of Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue downtown near the loop. Check out the tour this summer, they run until November when the boats stop running for the winter.

Vintage Black and White Mother's Day Photos with Kids.

There are a lot of ideas for spending Mother’s Day in Chicago with mom this year. Whether your mom is a corporate VP or a stay at home multitasking genius, there is something you can do to make this Sunday’s Mother’s Day Special.

Mother’s Day Flowers are always a great gift. Most moms love flowers so getting a bouquet of roses, flower arrangement of dasies or car load of bedding flowers for the front yard are all great ideas.  I have been taking my mom flower shopping for several years now the week before Mother’s Day. We buy a few hanging pots of geraniums and some flats of flowers for the garden (petunias, begonias, dahlias and maybe a rosebush or a flowering shrub if we need one that year).

Blue Butterfly on an Orange Zinnia, Flowers are a great gift for Mother's Day

I end up spending about $100 since it is a fancy place for flowers (Vern Goers in Hinsdale), but the Jewel stores have their greenhouses up and the home depot sells a lot of interesting bedding plants also. (also try The Growing Place in Naperville. ) You probably want to go home and help mom plant them in the garden and pots too, in order to really make it a great gift and a great day.

Mother’s Day Brunches

There are numerous Mother’s Day brunches all over Chicagoland on Sunday May 10th. Some good local Chicagoland restaurants I know of are:

Vintage Moms of the 1950's. What would they would have liked? What do they want us to remember?

The Glen Prairie Restaurant in Glen Ellyn, McCormick & Schmick’s Restaurant in Chicago, ZED451 in Chicago and the very popular Naperville Hilton Sunday Brunch at Allgauer’s in Naperville. You need reservations for all these restaurants on Mother’s Day. They all are usually booked for their Sunday brunches and Mother’s Day is no different. Call now to see if there is still room!

Mother’s day Gift Ideas

If you can’t afford an iPhone or a luxury spa vacation for mom here are some good Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for kids and families.

What most moms want is to be appreciated and to spend quality fun time with their kids. With how hectic the schedules are in our lives with work and home responsibilities, nobody gets enough quality time. Doing something for the day for the family is probably what mom would like best.

The famous Blue Box from Tiffany's.

Also keep your ears open for what mom has been talking about needing latley. Does the dishwasher make a menacing noise when it starts? Would the thought of doing dishes by hand in the sink every night grind your life and schedule to a halt? Is the washer starting a leak or acting funny stopping mid cycle? Getting things for the home that need upgrading is a great way to get a gift for mom and help both parents in the house get things done quicker.

Not all mom’s want to be reminded of the work they do at home on Mother’s Daythough. Some moms want to go out and experience the world that they left behind when they had kids. Maybe this kind of mom wants a night out withdad in the city, with a broadway show, fancy dinner and four star hotel.

Mother’s Day Traditions

If you really think about it, moms are the glue that holds nature and life together. Without all their nurturing and caring how would human life transfer knowledge to the next generation and continue? If you think about it, its pretty amazing that life has existed as long as it has, and how within a few short decades the generational shift in the world is huge. Moms also influence heavily who you become and some of your deepest personality traits. Women have traditionally played an important role in making all life possible on earth, lets give them the credit they deserve.

The Wood Dale restaurant is small, it only seats about 20 but the food is worth the wait if it's crowded.

Sweet Baby Ray’s makes a great Barbecue Sauce. I am a huge fan and when I found out that there was a restaurant that served just BBQ items with that sauce I had to try it out.  I had the Sweet Baby Ray’s Ribs at the Naperville Ribfest last summer and loved them. (Sweet Baby Ray’s won best ribs and second place in best sauce at the Naperville Ribfest) The barbecue sauce and the ribs are both important to getting your barbecue right, and although there are a lot of places in Chicago where you can get good ribs and ok BBQ, there aren’t many restaurants as good as Sweet Baby Ray’s.

They are known for having an authentic barbecue menu at very affordable prices and I found that to be very much the case.

The Wood Dale Restaurant is located at: 249 E. Irving Park Rd in Wood Dale, IL 60191. The phone number is: (630) 238-8261 you can also check out their menu online at sbrbbq.com.

The amazing Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce is more of a Kansas City style sauce but they also have hotter options for people who enjoy more of a Cajun flavor. When I visited the Sweet Baby Ray’s restaurant they mentioned that they don’t go too hot with their sauces because you alienate a large percentage of the BBQ fans with sauce that is too hot. They prefer tangy, flavorful sauces with a little heat that are enjoyable by many.

We tried a lot of food that night at Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant and here are some of what we thought were the best highlights:

If you go to Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant for BBQ there are plenty of options. There are sandwiches, ribs, pulled pork, chicken and shrimp. They do make the distinction of doing a lot of research and bringing Barbecue styles and recipes in from all over the country so Chicagoans can taste the different regional flavors. I found that I am a fan of a good Kansas City Style Sauce, but they have many dry rub and hotter options.

One of the slabs of BBQ ribs you can get at Sweet Baby Ray's Restaurant

There are many side dishes at Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant that are artfully paired with the main dish when you choose a meal. We found that we were huge fans of Chef Paul’s Corn Maque Choux and the Baked Beans, Sweet Baby Ray style. All the sides are great, but if your BBQ doesn’t come with the Corn Maque Choux you can still order it on the side for $1.29.

We were lucky enough to meet the Chef at Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant in Wood Dale, IL. Chef Duce Raymond (son of the creator of the famous Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce) is a local grad of Kendall College’s professional cooking program and a proud innovator of the restaurant menu. They try and change up the menu often to feature new dishes and offer a taste of BBQ from all over the country. They take great pride in their food at Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant and try and make it a high quality dining experience even though the price won’t break the bank.

In this less than stellar economy, going out for BBQ is one of the simple pleasures most of us can still afford and don’t have to go without. A dinner at Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant can range in price from around $9 for a BBQ Sandwich, $20 for a full slab of ribs, $10 for Jamaican Jerk Chicken and $16 for shrimp New Orleans style. (including tax) Drinks are about $3 and Desert should not be missed with $3 specialties like Banana Pudding, Chocolate Mud Pie and Pecan Pie to choose from. The only problem is that with generous meat portions it is really hard to still have room for desert. Even harder after you taste the honey kissed cornbread. (which may be the best cornbread I have ever had) Personally I would go back again for the BBQ Ribs, Corn Maque Choux and the Cornbread

Overall a dinner at Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant will cost around $15-$25 per person depending on what you order from their menu. There is also another restaurant location in Elk Grove Village, IL and they have started to concentrate on a new venture into the catering business for corporate functions and parties. The food is definitely a crowd pleaser and has an upscale taste even though it is down home comfort food.

The dynamic Riverdance Show in Action

Riverdance Irish Dance Performances are returning to Chicago this spring for their last 5 farewell performances at the Rosemont Theater at 5400 North River Road on March 19-22, 2009. The tickets for Riverdance are on sale now through Ticketmaster. This Riverdance show celebrates Irish song and dance traditions and has shared them with the world over the last years while becoming a worldwide phenomenon, winning Grammy awards, selling millions of DVDs and being viewed by millions of people.

Many people don’t know that like many popular cultural trends the Riverdance show arose from a short dance entry into the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994.(Much line American Idol, but with dancing also) And when the popularity went through the roof the production went on the road. Riverdance has not only been able to popularize names like Michael Flatley, it has changed the image of the country of Ireland since the peace process has ended the violence that was present for decades there  and these dancers traveled the world to show that this country offers so much more. They also paved the ay for other Irish shows like Celtic Women and popularity for local Irish Dance Troupes like our own Chicago Trinity Irish Dancers.

The Riverdance Farewell Tour passes through Chicago for 5 shows in March 2009.

But like all trends and cultural phenomenons, they have to come to an end. Most people have seen Riverdance in person, at shows and on PBS and other TV channels or on DVD many many times by now. I know the Irish community will continue these traditions but the general public has probably ridden the trend wave and now the attendance is down so the show is ending. This is one last performance to say goodbye to this sensational show before it ends. I have seen the show and I recommend it if you missed it before or just want to see it one last time in person.

An innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song, “Riverdance” draws on Irish traditions and the combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music to the present day capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures. This extraordinarily unique show features an international company all performing to the magic of Bill Whelan’s music.

Due to a scheduling conflict, performances previously scheduled for March 17 and 18, and March 19 at 2 p.m. have been cancelled. Patrons are being moved to alternate performances or refunds are available at point of purchase.

The performance schedule for “Riverdance” at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 North River Road, is as follows: Thursday, Mar. 19 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Mar. 20 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Mar. 21 at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Mar. 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets, which range from $32 – $69, are now on sale and may be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (312) 559-1212. Tickets are also available for purchase at the Rosemont Theatre box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets.

Everyone loves a good party and this year the recession has compelled more people to stay home and party for the Oscars with their neighbors and TV than in years past. The superbowl was a great example of people staying in, having a house party, bringing pot -luck dining items and enjoying the evening spectacle on DVR. The Oscars are always a very entertaining telecast and this year with Hugh Jackman hosting there will likely be lots of singing and dancing as well.

I think the Oscars will be entertaining whether you go out or stay in this year. Watching the Oscars at a posh party in Chicago is nice, although you will have a hard time justifying $150 ticket prices in the recession. Chicago Oscars house parties will be very popular this year and here are some tips for making yours fun. Remember that creativity is what really makes your Oscar party fun and not necessarily how much money you spend.

Chocolate Oscar Candy for guests.

Chicago Weekend Fun’s Oscar House Party Tips

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1. Dress up. Seriously. Don’t buy anything new, just raid the closet and dress up fancy as if you were attending a formal Oscar party. Some people also take more of a character theme to party costumes and tell guests to dress up as their favorite movie character.

2. Champagne, or in most cases, use the champagne glasses with ginger ale soda and voila, it’s a lot cheaper and nobody gets drunk before the end of the loooong Oscars broadcast and has to figure out how to drive home.

3. Liveblog the telecast on your blog, or twitter your reactions to what is happening on the Oscars telecast online. Some snark may make that pretty popular with guests and your online friends if it is a “virtual” party.

4. Invite the neighbors, friends, family. People enjoy getting together the more people the merrier. It proves that just sticking together helps in a recession like this. Pull all the chairs into the TV room for seating to watch the Oscars and put the food in another room so people don’t chat in the room where people are actually watching the show. Interesting mixes of people from different areas of your life make the most interesting parties.

If you really can afford a $100+ ticket to an Oscar Party in Chicago here is one of the local Chicago Oscars Events you may be interested in:

The Gene Siskel Film Center Oscar Party @ 6pm till Midnight downtown at the Gene Siskel Film Center. “Oscar Night in America”. $150 or VIP $250. This is a formal black tie event, but you get to watch the most well known awards for movies with some of the most influential movie personalities in Chicago, making this a truly unique experience if you can afford it this year. CALL 312-846-2072 for your tickets.

The Chicago Sketchfest has been a great event to see the top comedy sketches in Chicago(and from across the country) for the last 8 years. Brian Posen does a great job with the team he has working on the event and they really find some creative and inventive new comedy sketch acts to showcase. I have been to the sketchfest for the last 2 years and always end up laughing my arse off. I am also impressed by sponsors ways of showing unique support like the redbull sketchfest sign made from red bull cans and the giant Chipotle burrito that is about 10 ft long hanging from the celing.

There are schedules posted for the performers and shows now, so check them out and buy your passes early because they always sell out. The best deals are usually the weekend passes. This year the event is at the Chicago Theater Building again and the individual shows are $12.50 each for tickets and the full all-sketchfest pass is $150.00.That really is a good deal if you can spend 8 nights of your life in the Chicago Theater Building laughing at comedy. Even if you don’t have that much time on your hands it is still worth going. Especially since it is so f-ing cold, what else can you do in January? Its pretty much see original new comedy at the Sketchfest or see reruns on cable every night? I’d go see Sketchfest.

One of my favorite shows is always Big News, but they aren’t listed for this year nor are they listed on IO’s schedule where they launched a Chicago version of the show earlier in the year. This event is really about discoveringnew shows and new talent so I will go pick something I have never heard of before and be suprised at how random and funny it can be. Maybe I will laugh as hard as I did at the space musical I saw last year.

You may also be asking: “what is the difference between Improv and Sketch comedy?” That is a good question. There are many flavors of comedy in Chicago and the sketchfest specializes in written material that uses some props, video, music and costumes if needed, although it is somewhat low tech compared to SNL or other sketch based comedy shows. Improv is well, improvised on the spot. There is no script, so you make it all up as you go. The Chicago Improv Festival is the home of the Improv fest yearly and both fests are worth attending.

Yet you see a lot of the same people at both events. Both performers and audience members. I think a lot of people learn to create and write great comedy through improv as a process so the worlds overlap and collide in these festivals as well as in the permanent shows around town. You never know who you will see that will end up on SNL in a few years. We have almost too much talent in this city, it is impossible to see it all.

Additionally there is a new sketchfest kids day this year. This is always great for kids who like the performing arts or are just into laughing at wacky stuff. I am sure that these performances have been monitored for language and such so they are clean humor and safe for kids. Think more silly slap stick comedy. The details are:

Sketch Day for Kids presented by the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival on Sunday, January 10, 2009
1PM – Unintentionally Hilarious & 2PM – Bri-Ko
Location: Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont
Adult Tickets - $12.50 each, or $20 for both shows
Kids Under 12 Tickets - $8 each, or $12 for both shows.
Website: ChicagoSketchFest.com or Call (773) 539-4596 for tix

There is just one word of warning about the Sketchfest. (And I hate to mention it since everything else about the fest is so good) The sketchfest is way to big for the Chicago Theater Building. It outgrew it’s venue about 3 years ago and there is not enough room for people to enter and exit each set of shows on the hour and there is absolutely no parking. The valets don’t even have any parking spaces most nights. I sat outside in the cold for a 1/2 hour waiting for someone to leave last year so we could have the valet park our car. So, you *must* take public transportation and walk outside in -20 degree weather to get there, it is the only option. Or take a cab. That would work too. Somehow though, these tickets are always sold out despite the hassle of getting there and maneuvering between theaters in the mobs of people in line out the door and down the sidewalk. Make sure to get your show tickets at least a few weeks in advance.

Harry Potter’s props costumes and sets will be coming to the Museum of Science and Industry Exhibition in Chicago in April 2009. The exhibition will be there through September 7th 2009. This is much like the Star Wars Exhibition that they had there in the winter of 2007-2008. The movies are so popular that Harry Potter and Star Wars bring a whole new audience to The Museum of Science and Industry and help raise awareness of the museum for tourists and visitors as well as local residents.

The following for Harry Potter Books is huge in Chicago and an entire generation grew up on these books, reading them from cover to cover over and over again. I expect the tickets to easily sell out for the first few months at the exhibit. I would also expect there to be some demonstrations in the exhibit about how the magic effects happened in the movie and some explanations of how the Harry Potter movies were made.

Tickets on sale now at the Museum of Science and Industry website; $26 for adults, $19 for children, and $25 for senior citizens. There are discounted prices for everyone during the evening hours after the museum closes which is nice since people will pretty much line up forever to see these items in person if they are superfans. And judging from how many people stood in line at bookstores at midnight to get the books each time they were published, I think this will be one of the most popular exhibits at the museum of science and industry to date.

I also think this makes a good trip activity idea for the kids over spring break or summer break in 2009. There are a lot of other educational exhibits there that you should see too if you can make it. The bodyworlds exhibit is always popular. Just stay away from the internet exhibit (ala 1997) and the automobile exhibit (ala 1985). There are some areas of the museum that need a lot of updating.

See harrypotterexhibition.com for details and to buy tickets online.